HC Deb 03 June 1946 vol 423 c251W
58. Mr. F. Anderson

asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of prisoners of war who are working on jobs other than farm work, such as land drainage, etc., covering the areas of the borough of Whitehaven, Ennerdale Rural District Council and Millom Rural District Council; and whether he will consider substituting the employment of prisoners of war by men signing on at the White-haven and Cleator Moor Employment Exchanges, respectively.

Mr. T. Williams

Of the prisoners of war allocated to agriculture in the areas mentioned, 109 are working on jobs other than farm work. Six of them are on market garden work, and the rest on land drainage. As regards the second part of the Question, I will gladly give suitable unemployed men preference over prisoners of war, and steps to that end are already being taken.